School time!!

One of the very favorite experiences of the runners is to see all the children everywhere! So we enjoyed the 3 schools we were visiting today:

In the first one, the Qi Hua Primary School, 1,200 (!!) kids were waiting for us! The principle Mrs. Koh, together with the teachers had already prepared some information about the Run for and with the kids: they projected some of the principles of the World Harmony Run onto a screen, for all the children to see.

Afterwards they surprised us by also projecting the lyrics of the World Harmony Run Song and by singing it with all 1,200 children! That was really powerful!

Over these last few days we have experienced so much harmony between different cultures and religions! In Singapore too, quite a few different cultures live together and therefore most of the people here know two to three languages. They even sang a song for us that included lyrics in English, Malay and Tamil.

Dipavajan asked the team to give a "high five" to all (!!!) the children as they were passing to touch the torch upon leaving... this is always a great experience, but this time it was also one of self-transcendence!

Just across the street we continued on to the PAP-Kindergarten, Woodlands Branch.

Little children like these always give so much joy to us! They are beaming with joy, enthusiasm and eagerness!

At the end of the ceremony they were allowed to join us for a 20 metre run. But you just try to stop a flood of racing children, once they are unleashed!!

Our last stop for today was the Sarada Kindergarden at the Sri Ramakrishna Mission.

We enjoyed the spiritual atmosphere of this place very much. We have been quite impressed generally, with how well-behaved all the children have been in all of the schools which we have visited so far. They have been very awake and attentive and have participated with all their enthusiasm!

In Singapore in some schools they have two shifts of children: a morning and an afternoon shift. We were able to present the World Harmony Run to both groups and we all (pupils, teachers and ourselves) greatly enjoyed it!

At the end of the ceremonies the manager, Swami Satyalokananda, graciously presented us with greeting-cards hand-made by the children and with a little book by Swami Vivekananda, all of which will definitely be treasured!

Team Members:
Dipavajan and Apaga Renner (Austria), Marjan Jauk (Slovenia), Angela Muhs (Germany), Sandro Zincarini (Italy) and Michaela Pokorna (Czech Republic), Lunthita, Urdhacheta, Veni

Gallery: See more images!